#117 Looking Ahead in Digital Engineering for 2026

What will digital engineering and manufacturing really look like in 2026? 

In this forward-looking episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott step back from day-to-day execution and examine the trends, technologies, and curveballs shaping the next phase of the industry. 

From AI-driven data enrichment and digital twins moving beyond PLM, to ERP vendors entering new territory, humanoid robotics, additive manufacturing at scale, and even quantum computing, this conversation blends grounded experience with thoughtful speculation. 

The result is a candid, wide-ranging discussion about what feels inevitable, what feels risky, and what may arrive faster than expected. 

Key Topics & Takeaways 

• Why AI’s real value may be cleaning up decades of messy engineering data 
• How ERP vendors could become unlikely leaders in digital twin platforms 
• The growing importance of semantic data and context, not just volume 
• Why multi-modal AI inputs (speech, sketches, visuals) could change engineering workflows 
• The return of additive manufacturing headlines through mass customization 
• How vertically integrated digital manufacturing companies could disrupt today’s ecosystems 
• What humanoid and collaborative robots mean for factory integration 
• The unresolved risks of AI autonomy, liability, and regulation 
• Why quantum computing remains a wild card worth watching 

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 Have a take on 2026 or want to join the conversation? 

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